In a decisive move from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump put pen to paper, enacting a series of executive orders and decrees focused on tightening immigration policies.
In a series of decisive actions, Trump addressed the contentious issue of birthright citizenship while simultaneously declaring illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border a national emergency.
These moves reflect his commitment to fulfilling campaign promises aimed at strengthening border security.
However, certain aspects of his agenda, especially those aimed at redefining birthright citizenship, are expected to encounter considerable obstacles.
Legal challenges are mounting against him from immigration advocacy groups, which have expressed intense outrage in response to his announcements.
One organisation criticised his plans as failing to reflect American values, while another accused Trump’s administration of actively seeking to undermine their lives.
During his inaugural address earlier today, Trump pledged to “halt all illegal entry” and announced plans to deport millions of “criminal aliens.”
The order he signed designated Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organisations. He stated, “My foremost duty is to protect our nation from threats and invasions.”
During a recent gathering at Washington’s Capital One Arena, Trump officially annulled nearly 80 executive actions implemented by his predecessor, Joe Biden. He had pledged to eliminate Biden’s policies “within five minutes”.
After his inauguration, he issued a proclamation granting officials the power to “repel, repatriate, or remove” migrants until he deemed that “the invasion at the southern border has ceased”.
While specifics surrounding the order remain unclear, officials have indicated that Trump intends to abolish birthright citizenship.
This describes a US government policy of granting citizenship at birth to individuals born on American soil, irrespective of their parents’ immigration status.
Trump seems to be pursuing a shift in policy that would alter the current status of children born to undocumented migrants in the United States, potentially removing their automatic citizenship rights. The application of this measure will not extend to past instances.
The specifics of his plan remain ambiguous, particularly given that birthright citizenship is protected by the Constitution, necessitating a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress for any amendments to take place.
In a significant policy shift, Trump has directed federal agencies to cease the issuance of documentation for children born in the United States to parents residing in the country illegally or on temporary visas. This move could potentially restrict these children’s access to essential public services.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), an advocacy group, swiftly announced its intention to sue the Trump administration in response to the order. “The denial of citizenship to children born in the United States is not merely unconstitutional; it represents a dangerous and callous rejection of the core values that define America,” the statement read.
The new administration has taken decisive action to eliminate CBP One, a mobile application that allowed migrants to schedule appointments for entry at a port of entry.
Officials from the Biden administration have attributed the app’s introduction in January 2023 to a decrease in detentions at the border. The sole legitimate avenue for seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border was established.
The Customs and Border Protection website has officially stated that the app is “no longer available.”
App users now receive a notification stating, “existing appointments scheduled through CBP One are no longer valid”.
As CBS, the BBC’s US partner, reported, the Biden administration has arranged approximately 30,000 appointments through CBP One for migrants seeking entry into the United States over the upcoming three weeks.
Recent estimates indicate that approximately 270,000 migrants are currently in Mexico, awaiting a chance to enter the United States through CBP One.
In Tijuana, a city bordering Mexico, several migrants expressed feelings of defeat and disillusionment following the announcement of CBP One’s discontinuation.
“I hope God touches his heart,” expressed Oralia, a Mexican woman who escaped cartel violence in her home state with her son, who has epilepsy. “Assistance is truly essential at this time.”
After a lengthy seven-month wait, she finally sought an appointment through CBP One.
In a series of immediate actions, Trump has mandated the cessation of a Biden-era program that permitted as many as 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the United States each month via air travel. The application, similar to CBP One, aims to reduce the incidence of illegal border crossings.
Immigration advocacy groups have expressed intense outrage in response to Trump’s numerous directives.
The president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum expressed that the orders were “disappointing but not surprising,” echoing sentiments similar to those voiced by the ACLU.
“The anticipated orders would divide families and undermine our economy,” Jennie Murray stated. “They fail to adhere to the principles that define American values.”
Greisa Martinez Rosas, executive director of United We Dream, a national organisation representing immigrant youth, expressed that the recent orders indicate the administration’s intention to “spend the next four years actively trying to destroy our lives.”
“The promises made by Trump to implement widespread raids and deportations are poised to inflict severe repercussions on communities across the country, potentially leaving millions of families and individuals in turmoil unless our elected officials take swift and public measures to counter these actions,” she stated.
